Resignations saga: MQM delays lawmakers’ return

Altaf Hussain has linked their return to formation of talks committee


Abdul Manan October 13, 2015
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ISLAMABAD: Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain on Monday stopped eight of his senators from rejoining the upper house of parliament, just days after the party had agreed that its lawmakers would withdraw their resignations, The Express Tribune has learnt.

On Monday, Senator Tahir Mashhidi was supposed to chair a Senate panel, but he did not appear.

On October 9, the MQM and the government had signed a memorandum of understanding to form a five-member Grievance Redressal Committee. The Karachi-based party had simultaneously announced that its parliamentarians will withdraw their resignations from the Senate, National Assembly and the provincial assembly in Sindh.

According to sources, Altaf was dissatisfied with the MoU and has since linked the return of MQM lawmakers to the government accepting their conditions and to notifying the committee.

However, Senator Mashhadi told The Express Tribune that the MQM chief had not stopped them from rejoining the upper house of parliament, instead he offered the excuse that they could not reach Islamabad in time.

However, he added that once Senator Ishaq Dar notifies the GRC, they will approach the Senate chairman about withdrawing their resignations.

MQM parliamentarians had submitted their resignations in August accusing the government of not listening to their genuine grievances.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2015.

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